1907 Toronto municipal election

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In the 1907 Toronto municipal election, held January 1, 1907, Emerson Coatsworth was re-elected to a second term of mayor. His principal challenger wasJames Lindala, whom the Toronto World described as an "unknown socialist". [1] Lindala, the candidate of the Socialist Party of Canada, was a tailor and Finnish immigrant with no experience on city council. According to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography's entry on Lindala: "The election caused a stir in the Toronto press. The Globe, for instance, wondered how 'an unknown Socialist tailor of foreign birth should poll over eight thousand votes . . . against a barrister of irreproachable character.' Lindala’s platform had advocated the abolition of “wage slavery” and urged collective ownership of lands and machinery, but his strong showing seems to have been largely due to a high protest vote. The socialists were nevertheless elated both with the results and with the publicity surrounding the campaign, in which, the Western Clarion of Vancouver reported, “a manifesto full of revolutionary fire” drew “attacks from the capitalist press.” [2] Three by-laws authorizing public works expenditures that were submitted to referendum as party of Coatsworth's platform were also defeated, though a fourth by-law to allow the city to purchase hydroelectricity from the newly formed Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario was approved. The results led the World to conclude that Coatsworth's administration did not have the confidence of the population. [1]

Contents

Mayoral election

Results
Emerson Coatsworth - 13,805
James Lindala - 8,286
Robert Buist Noble - 1,337

Reference: [1]

Board of Control

Four members were elected to the Toronto Board of Control in an at-large vote. Two of the four incumbents running for re-election were defeated.

Results
J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 9,342
William Spence Harrison - 9,054
Horatio Clarence Hocken - 8,526
William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 8,495
Robert Fleming - 7,055
S. Alfred Jones (incumbent) - 6,722
John Shaw (incumbent) - 6,564
John Dunn - 5,058
Thomas Davies - 1,360
Joel Marvin Briggs - 491

Reference: [1]

Plebiscite

Votes were held on proposed by-laws authorizing public expenditures on the construction of a trunk sewer, a new entrance to the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, and a streetcar bridge over Yonge Street and were all defeated. A proposal to authorize negotiations between the city and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario to purchase hydroelectric power from the public utility rather than private electric companies was approved.

Public hydro
For - 10,959
Against - 2,886
Trunk sewer
For - 5,463
Against - 7,712
Streetcar bridge
For - 4,385
Against - 8,687
Exhibition
For - 3,994
Against - 8,887

Reference: [1]

Aldermen elected to City Council

Map of Toronto's six wards (1892-1909), published in The Globe, 1 January 1892. 1892-toronto-ward-map.jpg
Map of Toronto's six wards (1892-1909), published in The Globe, 1 January 1892.

Three alderman were elected to sit on Toronto City Council in each of six wards.

First Ward
Daniel Chisholm (inc.) - 1,858
Edward Hales - 1,302
James Wilson - 1,283
William Temple Stewart (inc.) - 1,142
William J. Saunderson - 1,111
Second Ward
Thomas Foster - 1,729
James Hales - 1,696
Tommy Church (inc.) - 1,653
Dr. John Noble (inc.) - 1,172
Edward Strachan Cox - 1,065
Frederick Hogg - 806
Patrick O'Connor - 725
Third Ward
George Reginald Geary (inc.) - 2,698
John Wilson Bengough - 2,381
Sam McBride (inc.) - 1,938
J.A. Humphrey - 936
Francis William Johnston - 883
John Harris - 755
John Solomon Granatstein - 409
Abraham Friedman - 137
Fourth Ward
George McMurrich (inc.) - 2,597
Robert Crawford Vaughan (inc.) - 2,591
Thomas Alexander Lytle - 1,863
Harry Lovelock - 1,566
Alexander R. Williamson - 1,062
Dr. Charles E. Stacey - 940
Fifth Ward
Albert James Keeler (inc.) - 1,953
Robert Henry Graham - 1,560
Peter Whytock - 1,459
John Aldridge - 1,174
William Carlyle - 1,063
Blayney Harvey Scott- 959
William J. Bell - 645
Henry Egbert Hurd - 622
John Albert Couch - 500
Henry T. Meredith - 463
Sixth Ward
James Henry McGhie (inc.) - 2,644
John James Graham (inc.) - 2,271
John Henry Adams (inc.) - 1,850
Thomas Hurst - 1,415

Reference: [3] [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Coatsworth Winner by 5500". Toronto World. January 2, 1907. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  2. Lindström, Varpu. "LINDALA, JAMES". Dictionary of Canadian Biography. University of Toronto/Université Laval. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  3. "Coatsworth Winner". Toronto World. January 2, 1907. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  4. MANY STARTERS IN ALDERMANIC RACE: The Nomination Meetings Were Devoid of Excitement THE BY-LAWS SUPPORTED Street Railway Loops Are Subjected to Criticism Nearly Fifty Candidates for Aldermanic Honors Signify Their Intention to Stay in the Field No Great Surprises in Connection With the Nominations The Meetings Were Orderly, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]25 Dec 1906: 7